Chinese authorities have detained executives of COFCO Coca-Cola Beverages Limited (CBL) after one of its factories was found to have tampered with water pollution monitoring equipment to skirt environmental regulations, according to Beijing Business Today.

CBL is a bottling company jointly owned by beverage giant Coca-Cola and the state-owned China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO).

Coca-Cola China explains how it recycles water on its website. Photo: coca-cola.com.cn screencap.

Its factory in northwestern China’s Gansu province was accused of forging water pollution data by tampering with sampling equipment, the Beijing newspaper said.

The company’s executives were given a five-day administrative detention on October 15 as punishment by police in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu.

CBL told the Beijing newspaper they are investigating the incident.

On the Coca-Cola China website, the company said they strictly treat waste water to ensure all their emissions comply with environmental standards.

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